of her class, suggested no sympathetic interest in his mission.

"Thar's a deal o' talk over there," she said dryly, "and thar's
folks ez thinks thar's a deal o' money spent in picnicking the
Gospel that might be given to them ez wish to spread it, or to
their widows and children. But that don't consarn you, Brother
Gideon. Sister Parsons hez money enough to settle her darter Meely
comfortably on her own land; and I've heard tell that you and Meely
was only waitin' till you was ordained to be jined together.
You'll hev an easier time of it, Brother Gideon, than poor Marvin
Hiler had," she continued, suppressing her tears with a certain
astringency that took the place of her lost pride; "but the Lord
wills that some should be tried and some not."

"But I am not going to marry Meely Parsons," said Gideon quietly.

The widow took her foot from the rocker. "Not marry Meely!" she
repeated vaguely. But relapsing into her despondent mood she
continued: "Then I reckon it's true what other folks sez of Brother
Silas Braggley makin' up to her and his powerful exhortin'
influence over her ma. Folks sez ez Sister Parsons hez just
resigned her soul inter his keepin'."

"Brother Silas hez a heavenly gift," said the young man, with
gentle enthusiasm; "and perhaps it may be so. If it is, it is the
Lord's will. But I do not marry Meely because my life and my ways
henceforth must lie far beyond her sphere of strength. I oughtn't
to drag a young inexperienced soul with me to battle and struggle
in the thorny paths that I must tread."